Sale or Use of Transmitters Designed to Prevent, Jam or Interfere with
Cell Phone Communications is Prohibited in the United States

In response to multiple inquiries concerning the sale and use of
transmitters designed to prevent, jam or interfere with the operation
of cellular and personal communications service (PCS) telephones, the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is issuing this Public Notice
to make clear that the marketing, sale, or operation of this type of
equipment is unlawful. Anyone involved with such activities may be
subject to forfeitures, fines or even criminal prosecution.

Cellular and PCS telephones provide valuable wireless communications
services to the American public for business and personal
communications. Recently, however, the FCC has seen a growing interest
in devices --- called cellular jammers or cell phone jammers
--- designed to deliberately jam or disrupt wireless communications.
Inquiries about the use of cellular jammers are often accompanied by
comments that the use of wireless phones in public places is disruptive
and annoying. Advertisements for cellular jammers suggest that the
devices may be used on commuter trains, in theaters, hotels,
restaurants and other locations the public frequents.

The Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and the FCC rules prohibit
the manufacture, importation, marketing, sale or operation of these
devices within the United States (See Section 302(b) of the
Communications Act, 47 USC § 302a(b) and Section 2.803(a) of the FCC's
rules, 47 CFR § 2.803(a)). In addition, it is unlawful for any person
to willfully or maliciously interfere with the radio communications of
any station licensed or authorized under the Act or operated by the
U.S. Government (See Section 333 of the Communications Act, 47 USC §
333). Further, Section 301 of the Act, 47 USC § 301, requires persons
operating or using radio transmitters to be licensed or authorized
under the Commission's rules.

Parties violating the provisions of the Communications Act and/or FCC
rules mentioned above may be subject to the penalties set forth in 47
USC §§ 501-510. Monetary forfeitures for a first offense can be as
much as $11,000 a day for each violation and could subject the offender
to criminal prosecution. Equipment may also be seized by the United
States Marshals and forfeited to the U.S. Government.